Peanut butter snacks should be incredibly moreish and a tub of peanut butter proves to be an impressively versatile ingredient in its own right.
From protein bars, energy bites, and banana bread you can create ahead of time to cake and frozen yogurt for a quick treat. There are also recipes for long-lasting snacks like granola, cookies, and even popsicles.
As peanut butter is not overly sweet it works well on its own but also to add a thick consistency to a batter that you can then bake into cake or form into bars.
Some of these recipes do not require baking which sounds ridiculously easy and it is. Here are 17 easy and simple peanut butter snacks you will want to try with a bonus section for peanut butter and banana recipes.
1. No Bake Peanut Butter Protein Bars
These protein bars should taste like a peanut butter cup and you can keep them in the refrigerator. Combine natural and creamy peanut butter with honey, melted coconut oil, and vanilla extract.
Add in ground flaxseed meal and your favorite protein powder then press into a lined tin. Add melted chocolate on top, tilt to evenly cover then leave in the fridge to set then cut into bars.
2. Peanut Butter Bars
This Peanut Butter Bars recipe creates an indulgent treat, almost like a cheesecake without the dairy middle layer as this one only has two.
Create a base layer of pulsed graham crackers, combined with melted together peanut butter and butter with salt, and confectioner’s sugar.
Pour the mix into a prepared pan and chill in the refrigerator while you prepare the layer to go on top. Melt chocolate chips with peanut butter and stir until smooth then lay on top and refrigerate until set.
3. Peanut Butter Snack Cake
Believe it or not, this Snack Cake comes sugar-free so you should not feel too guilty when you make some. Start by adding oat flour to peanut butter, coconut oil, eggs, vanilla extract, maple syrup, and almond milk.
Add in salt and baking powder then fold in chocolate chips, or even some dried fruit. Pour the batter into a prepared baking tin and bake until a toothpick comes out clean.
4. Peanut Butter Pretzel Energy Bites
Delicious and nutritious, these Peanut Butter Pretzel Energy Bites are no-bake and can be kept for weeks in the refrigerator.
Blitz together pretzels and rolled oats for a crushed texture then mix with shredded coconut, chia seeds, peanut butter, coconut oil, and blue agave.
Get your hands out and shape into balls then chill in the refrigerator or freezer for around half an hour. You can also freeze them and simply defrost them when you want as they should not take long to thaw.
5. Healthy Peanut Butter Granola
To create some delicious and healthy peanut butter granola, whisk together egg whites until bubbly then stir in peanut butter. Pour in honey, brown rice cereal, and oats then stir for an even coating.
Spread the mix onto a baking sheet and bake until crispy but ensure that you move it around during baking.
Once crunchy and brown, leave to cool before pouring into an airtight container to snack on alone or in a bowl with some yogurt and sliced fruit.
6. Apple And Peanut Butter Granola
One great way to use up some of that granola is to use it with a chopped apple, such as a Gala apple.
Chop the apple crosswise into slices that should be around three-quarters of an inch thick then remove the core. Spread on peanut butter then top with a couple of teaspoons of granola.
7. Peanut Butter Granola Bars
These Granola Bars are full of protein and healthy fats which make them ideal for a snack, they are also considered no-bake. Melt together coconut oil, peanut butter, honey, cinnamon, and vanilla extract until creamy and smooth.
Remove from the heat and stir in chia seeds, flaxseed meal, and rolled oats then fold in roasted chopped almonds and shredded coconut.
Spread the mixture onto a lined baking sheet and press down until firm then drizzle over melted chocolate with coconut oil, cover with foil and freeze until hardened before slicing into bars.
8. Healthy Peanut Butter Cups
Yes, you can make your own Peanut Butter Cups and they should be healthy too. You will need miniature muffin liners, or you can simply cut regular-sized ones in half lengthwise.
Melt chocolate chips and fill the muffin cups halfway then leave to set in the refrigerator for the bottom layer.
In a bowl, stir together powdered sugar, peanut butter, and salt then pour onto the chocolate, add more melted chocolate to top and leave in the refrigerator to set.
9. Peanut Butter Cookies
Creating a batch of Peanut Butter Cookies can be really simple and rewarding. Cream together shortening, brown sugar, peanut butter, vanilla extract, and milk until well blended then add in an egg to incorporate.
In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt then add to the peanut butter mixture and beat together. Scoop out the mixture onto a baking tray and bake until the edges begin to brown.
10. PB & J Oatmeal Cookies
Peanut butter and jelly is such a classic flavor combination, you should want to create these oatmeal cookies. Simply combine mashed banana with peanut butter then add oats to combine.
Spoon out the mixture onto a baking sheet and bake until golden then top each cookie with jelly while warm.
11. Peanut Butter Popsicles
For a snack you can leave in the freezer, create these popsicles as they only take ten minutes to prepare. Blitz together ripe bananas with natural peanut butter, milk (unsweetened and non-dairy is fine), maple syrup, and vanilla extract.
Check the batter and sweeten it up if necessary with more maple syrup. Pour into popsicle molds, leaving room at the top, and freeze overnight.
12. Peanut Butter M&Ms
Of course, you can buy a bag of peanut butter M&Ms but you can make your own too. Start by blitzing the oats in a food processor then add dates and remove when you have a paste.
Next, blitz salted peanuts and almonds then add peanut butter and combine well. Add the date paste until you have a dough and then create into balls and freeze to harden before dipping in melted chocolate then leaving in the freezer to set.
13. Ants On A Log
Ants on a log is far more appetizing than it sounds and so simple to do. Simply chop up some celery sticks and spread peanut butter into the concave section. Push your ‘ants’ (raisins) into the peanut butter and serve immediately.
14. Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Bark
You only need three ingredients to make a batch of Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Bark, you can even make some as a gift. Use sugar-free baking dark chocolate and melt until smooth then pour onto a baking tray.
Meanwhile, melt peanut butter and drizzle over the chocolate then create swirls with a toothpick. Sprinkle over some coarse sea salt and leave to set in the refrigerator.
15. Peanut Butter Cookies
Any list of peanut butter snacks should come with Peanut Butter Cookies as they are so simple to make.
Sift and whisk together baking powder and flour then, in a separate bowl, cream together butter, brown, and white sugars then add the peanut butter.
Incorporate the vanilla extract and egg then combine with the flour mixture. Roll into balls, flatten with a fork and bake until browned.
16. Peanut Butter Yogurt Bowl
Packed full of protein, this yogurt bowl sure will hit the spot. Simply pour a few spoonfuls of Greek yogurt into a bowl then add smooth peanut butter and honey.
Slice up a banana to mix in and then shake over some chocolate chips for an indulgent treat.
17. Peanut Butter Mousse
Consider this Peanut Butter Mousse to be indulgent but also low in carbohydrates and sugar-free.
Simply rinse and drain a tofu block then cut it into pieces and blitz with unsweetened vanilla almond milk, vanilla extract, liquid Stevia extract, peanut flour, and salt.
Add more salt or stevia to your own preference and serve immediately in bowls. Top with salted peanuts and mini chocolate chips for a garnish.
Bonus Section: Peanut Butter And Banana
Peanut butter goes together so well with bananas that there are several ways to prepare it. From frozen yogurt, to banana bread, and muffins.
1. Three-Ingredient Banana FroYo
This is such a simple and healthy recipe, you should want to create it over and over again.
Cut a couple of bananas into chunks and freeze them then blitz together with half a cup of 2% fat Greek yogurt and one and a half tablespoons of natural peanut butter.
You should get a smooth, fluffy paste and you can freeze it for 15 minutes for a harder consistency.
2. Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Bread
For a fresh twist of banana bread, add some chocolate. Mash a few ripe bananas with a fork then whisk in melted butter, egg, milk, vanilla extract, and sugar.
In a separate bowl, beat the peanut butter then add to the banana mixture before beating in salt, baking soda, and cinnamon before folding in flour and chocolate chips.
Spread the batter into a prepared baking pan and bake until golden and a toothpick comes out clean.
3. Peanut Butter Banana Muffins
For a batch of tasty wholewheat muffins, try creating these with some peanut butter and banana. Whisk together mashed bananas, honey, yogurt, brown sugar, egg, and milk then whisk in the peanut butter and vanilla extract for a thick batter.
In another bowl, whisk together cinnamon, flour, baking powder, baking soda, chocolate chips, and salt. Combine the wet and dry ingredients then use the batter to fill muffin cups and bake until a toothpick comes out clean.
Final Thoughts
Should you simply spread peanut butter on toast then you are missing out on a vast array of snacks.
Of course, you can use the foodstuff to create a stir-fry sauce but it can also be used to make several snacks that can fill a hole before a main meal or when you are simply a little hungry.
Most of these recipes can be made in advance and simply brought out when you need them. From popsicles you can prepare and leave in the freezer to energy balls you can leave in the fridge.
The great thing about these snacks is that you should have a lot of pantry ingredients already so you should not need to head to the shops. That includes a chocolate bark that may only require chocolate and sea salt in addition to the peanut butter.
You could create a serving of frozen yogurt with just some banana and yogurt. If you do need to sweeten the recipe, just use some maple syrup to stick with the moreish taste of the peanut butter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Peanut butter can be considered a healthy foodstuff as it has plenty of healthy fats. However, it does prove incredibly versatile so you should ensure that you use it in healthy recipes.
This can include in a stir-fry sauce with plenty of fresh vegetables or in a bowl of oatmeal that can keep you full for hours.
You can also create energy bites or a healthy batch of ice-cream by combining peanut butter with frozen peanuts or simply make a smoothie with some fresh fruit.
Peanut butter contains a great list of nutrients and many health advocates believe that if you eat it at night, you can soon feel the benefit.
Eating peanut butter before bed can support muscle growth, improve sleep quality, and stabilize blood sugar levels. Peanut butter also contains many micronutrients and remains a great source of vitamin E.
As peanut butter contains the amino acid tryptophan, it can help regulate an individual’s sleep-wake cycle and improve sleep quality by helping the body create melatonin and serotonin.
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